Tool handle



June' 17, 1930. E. M. PFAusgR -TooL HANbLE- EI M Uf/sluier Patented June17, 1930 UNIT iff;

EDWARD M. PFAU'SER, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIG-NOR T0 BLACKHAWK CO.,OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN MFG.

TOOL HANDLE Application filed. April 16,

This invention pertains to improvements in tool handles, and isapplicable to such tools as wrenches, bits, and the like, in which theshank of the tool is provided with a rotatable end handle, by means ofwhich the tool is held, and pressure applied thereto.

The invention has primarily for its object the provision of a simple andinexpensive `handle of the foregoing character Vin which novel means areprovided `for reducing wear at the points of friction, to a minimum.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object is to provide a toolhandle with hardened bearings at the points of engagement with the toolshank, so assembled within the handle as to reduce manufacturing coststo a minimum, and provide a snug rigid engagement between. the handleand 2o tool.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly definedby the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may Vbe made as 3o come within the scope of the'claims.

In the accompanying drawing, is illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the present invention constructed according tothe best mode so far` devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof. Y

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a transverse section through a tool handleconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 yis a detail section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral1 designates the shank of a tool, such as a Wrench, 45 bit, or the like,and adjacent its upper end,

the same is provided with a restricted portion, which results in theannular shoulders 2. Rotatably mounted on the upper end of the shank 1,is a handle 3 comprising a hol @c low shell formed of upper and lowersections ino' withthe end of the shank, and in the oppo- 1927s. serialNo. 355,47a.

4i and 5, respectively, which sections are preferably formed of sheetmetal stampings,` of material sufliciently soft to permit properworking.` j

Secured within the handle between the upper and lower'section's, is ahardened bear ing plate 6 provided with a recess 7 for the Vreception ofthe upper end of the shank 1.

To further eliminate friction, and provide an end thrust bearing for thehandle, the recess 7 is provided with a `rounded projection 8 engagingthe end of the shank.` The upper and lower sections 4 and 5, aswell asthe bearing plate G, Vare secured together by crimping over the edge ofthe material of the upper section, as clearly shown in Figure 1. l

Y From the foregoing, it will be'readily seen that the hardened plate,which receives the upper end of thetool shank 1, serves both as alateral and'end thrust bearg, and inasmuch as the greatest pressure isexerted upon the endof the tool shank, friction is reduced toa minimumthrough the rounded lprojection 8, and, the bearing plate, beingconstructed of hardened material, very little wear occurs.

vThe lower section 5 is provided with a restricted sleeve eXtension 9,which snugly rereceives a hardened split bushing 10 engaged in therestricted portion of the shank and abutting the shoulders 2 to preventlongitudinal 'movement on the shank.

The handle is secured to the bushing by crimping over the lower edge 11.Thus, in assembled position, the handle has free rotary movement on theshank and is held against longitudinal movement in vone direc` tion byengagement ofthe bearing nib 8 l9() site direction, by engagement of thesplit bushing with one of the shoulders 2; Obviously, it is essentialthat the bushing 2 be split in order tov assemble the same upon therestricted portion of the shank prior to assembling the handle on thebushing and crimping over the restricted sleeve extension to provide apermanent assembly.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, itwill be obviloe ous that a comparatively simple, durable, andinexpensive structure has been provided, which results in a freelyrotatable handle for the shank of a tool and reduces wear to a minimum,in that the parts of the handley for engaging the shank are providedwith hardened bearing surfaces, thus permitting the outer shell, formingthe handle, to be constructed of relatively soft fand inexpensivematerial, easily formed to the desired shape.

I claim:

l. A tool handle comprising a hollow shell for receiving the shank of atool, said shell comprising upper and lower sections secured together bv crimping the material of one section over the other section, the lowersection .being provided with a restricted sleeve extension, a hardenedplate secured between said sections and provided with a recess forreceiving the end of said shank, and a rounded extension in said recessto form an end bearing for said shank, and a split hardened bushingsecured in said sleeve eXtension by crimping over the end of saidsleeve, said split bushing engaging. an annular restricted portion insaid shank to form a bearing for the handle and retain the same againstlongitudinal movement on the shank.

2. A tool handle including a shank having a restricted portion,shoulders at the ends of said restricted portion, a hardened platehaving a central recess for receivingthe end of the shank, a roundedextension projecting into the recess to form an end bearing for saidshank, a hollow shell enclosing the outer end of the shank comprisingupper and lowersections, the lower section having an annular flange tosupport the edge of the hardened plate, the upper section having itsouter edges crimped over the edge of the plate, and the4 flange on'thellower section to connect said section, the lower ksection beingprovided with a restricted sleeve eX- tension enclosing the restrictedportion in the shank and a split hardened bushing in the restrictedportion of the shank and enclosed by the restricted sleeve extension,said bushing being held in place by crimping over the end ofthe sleeveextension, said split portion engagingoneof the shoulders formed by therestricted portion in the shank to form a bearing for the handle andretain thepsame against longitudinal move- Y ment on the shank. v Y

In, testimony .that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand atMilwaukee,

in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

EDWARD M. PFAUSER.

